Ekzilo – Ekzilo
I found another great independent progressive rock band. This time they are from Spain. Ekzilo is the band and they have released their debut album on September 21, 2020.
The band is made up of José Ruiz, on guitars; Ángel Veas, on bass; Joaquín Periago, (Michel), on bass; and Pablo Rodríguez, on piano, keyboards and voice. José and (Michel), have been friends and have worked together for over 20 years.
This band is one of my favorite finds already in what is quickly emerging as a very good year for progressive rock, and music in general.
Every track on this six-song album is perfect. They blend their Spanish/Santana – like influences well with modern progressive rock. Most of the tracks are instrumental, but they are lively and enthralling pieces of magic.
The opener, “Stargazers”, is aptly named. You will be searching the night skies with this short, but poetic guitar and keyboard number. Sounds of the ocean added for pure enjoyment.
“Diciembre”, (December), is a wonderful acoustic guitar and piano instrumental full of incredible sounds, including more of those ocean waves from the Mediterranean Sea, “recorded directly in Puntas de Calnegre, which is a protected natural area”.
The band’s name is described in the next song, “Ekzilo”, or exile. This is one of the few tracks with lyrics. Pablo Rodríguez sings, “If we go far!”, on the refrain. A song about travelling, with an excellent beat to carry you on the journey.
“Salaryman”, opens with the famous sound of Deep Purple – like keyboards, before some excellent electric guitar work takes over. The song and music, on this instrumental reflect the gritty feeling of “how work or similar pressure situations can lead a person to end their life”. The music reflects the deeper feeling and sadness conveyed. The drums also play a prominent role on this song.
“Cleavage”, is a straight-ahead instrumental rocker, after a cool ethereal opening full of echoes, mystical guitar and keyboards.
“La buhonera, (Ruvira, 15)”, “is a tribute to the first place where you can listen to good music in the 70s in our city”. It is a song in which the band demonstrates the sound of Andalusian rock. It is a Santana-like rhythm opus full of inner soul magic. The keyboard work on this song alone is worth the price of admission.
This is excellent, relaxing, progressive music from Spain. I noticed they have released more music since this album and I will ask them for demos of the other albums, after I complete a list of reviews that continues to grow as the year moves on. Pick up this great debut album and preview their other works. This is a band to definitely add to your watch list.
The album is very early Santana – like, with smooth rhythms and excellent guitar and keyboard work. The bass work throughout this album is extraordinary.
Tracklist
1. Stargazers (2:27)
2. Diciembre (8:51)
3. Ekzilo (8:00)
4. Salaryman (7:05)
5. Cleavage (7:41)
6. La Buhonera (6:24)
https://www.facebook.com/ekzilo.rock/
https://ekzilo.blogspot.com/?fbclid=IwAR1b5Oxhzope16-Ef7y8C_4pbAOLcHxwADddt5SlSMbe6YEG6DoH08JttvQ
https://ekzilomusic.bandcamp.com/track/ekzilo
https://www.facebook.com/ekzilo.rock